Divisional Round

After a first round bye, the St. Louis Rams were eager to get there playoff journey underway in the divisional round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams came into the game with one thing on their minds, dont turn the ball over. The run game was prevalent as both Steven Jackson and the Duo of Ward/James had huge days with a combined total of 605 yards rushing and 6 TDs.
The Bucs got the ball first and scored easily on big runs and timely passes but the Rams answered quickly with a Sjax TD from 28 yards out. Three plays into the next drive, Freeman found FB Askew deep and he broke a tackle and went 47 yards for the score. The Rams were noticeable worried that their defense did not show up for this game but they kept plugging with Jackson. After many successful run plays, the rams caught the bucs in a bad coverage and scored with a PA pass to TE McMichael. Only a min later, the bucs went up 7 again with a 22 yard TD by RB Ward. The bucs finally stopped Steven Jackson and forced a FG with 2 mins left. They drove on offense but missed a long FG to end the half with a score of 21-17 Bucs.

Less than a minute into the second half, the Rams took the lead for good with a 74 rushing TD by Steven Jackson. The rams forced a fumble and recovered the ball and Jackson scored another TD on the next play from 28 yards out. Both defenses finally figured out what the offenses were doing and kept both teams out of the endzone until the bucs kicked a FG with 3 minutes to go in the game. With a 7 point lead with 3 mins left, the Rams looked to eat the clock down, but on the first play, Jackson broke tackle after tackle and went 77 yards for the score to make it a 14 point game. The Bucs scored with less than 2 mins left and went for the onside kick. After a failed kick, the defense kept the rams from getting a first down and running down the clock. The Bucs got the ball with 30 secs left and no TOs, but Freeman got intercepted on the first play by FS bulter to end the game.

Steven Jackson was player on the game with 337 yards and 4 TDs on 30 rushing attempts. The rams kept running up the gut and Steven Jackson responded big time with 2 70yard TDs.

GG JC, you played alot better than our regular season game, Had me worried when i couldnt stop you the whole first half but that early fumble in the second did you in.

BALTIMORE, MD - In a rematch of last year's playoffs, the Ravens hosted the Titans with a trip to the AFC Championship on the line. This one would be a nailbiter, and a true example of toughnosed football shown by both coaches. Defense would be king early as Baltimore stopped the Titans on a 3 and out. The Titan D answered, only with an INT from Tulloch. The Raven D would step up again, but the offense would get pinned deep. Nothing doing, and even worse, Flacco threw his 2nd INT of the game. Set up with good field position, the Titans would put 3 on the board to open the scoring. Into the second, Flacco would throw his 3rd interception, this one on a nice read by Keith Bulluck. The Ravens D held as Trevor Price sacked Jake Scott, and the defense held a reception to Cook short to force another Bironas FG. Things looked grim for the Ravens as Flacco would go 3 and out with the Titans plugging up the run. Jake Scott started a long drive but made a big mistake. Dom Foxworth would snare an interception and go 80 yards the other way for a go-ahead score. 7-6 with under 2:00 left. Scott would connect with Mosely for a big 33 yard gain, moving further with a 41 yarder to Blansit. Scott would lace a pass to Justin Gage for a 17 yard score leaving :41 on the clock. Flacco would get just enough yardage hooking up with Driver and Heap to get a FG on the board as the half expired. 13-10 Titans.

The Ravens opened the second half with their best drive on the day. The drive went 13 plays keyed by a facemask penalty and a 27 yard hookup to Driver. The Ravens kept chipping away with the run and were rewarded with a McClain dive for a TD and a 17-13 lead. The Titans again were force to punt, and again Flacco shot himself in the foot with an INT. Jake Scott wasted no time, putting the ball into the endzone on a 5 yard catch by Kenny Britt. Baltimore would start another drive that would extend into the 4th quarter. Into the redzone, the Titans D would get a sack on Flacco to force a FG. Hauschka's kick tied the game at 20. The Ravens held Chris Johnson in check, forcing a 3-and-out. Once again, Flacco forced a bad pass, intercepted on a leaping grab by Morrison with 3:30 left. The Raven defense answered the call. A sack on Scott set up 2nd and long. On the next play, Foxworth slid underneath Kenny Britt and intercepted Scott's pass. Devan Nieves took his next carry 17 yards, breaking several tackles to move the team forward. Ray Rice took a cue from the rook, going 13 yards on the next play. The Ravens bled the clock down and settled for a go-ahead FG from Hauschka with under 1:00 left. Tennessee went first to a run by CJ for 9 yards, and Scott got his team to the line. He was nearly intercepted on a deep ball bringing up 3rd and 1. Scott fired a ball to Justin Gage, but he would drop it setting up a do or die 4th and 1. The Titans came out big, but Scott dropped to pass. He hurried the throw to Alge Crumpler, but Terrell Suggs was on him and he wasn't looking. The ball hit him on the back shoulder to turn the ball over to Baltimore. Flacco took a knee and the Ravens escaped with a win.

It's always tough to lose in the playoffs, but that was one hell of a way to go out. Great game again with you Mags. Tough defense is what was the difference. Best of luck the rest of the way and we have put a bounty out on Foxworth.

Denver - The Denver Bronco's flexed some serious defensive muscle as they forced a pair of interceptions and a pair of fumbles while the offense was flawless in a 37-17 victorty over the visiting Dolphins.

Denver opened the scoring after Peyton Hillis ripped off 50 plus yards on the opening play of the game and led 10-0 at the break as the Miami offense struggled to get things rolling.

Up 17-0 midway through the second quarter Maimi broke the plain and seemed to gain some momentum only to watch it vanish as Matt Cassel took two plays to reach pay dirt finding J. Morgan from 31 yards out to all but snuff out any Dolphin momentum.

Up 31-7 at the half the Bronco's continued to frustrate the Dolphin offense and after picking up their second special teams fumble the game seemed to be all but a matter of running the clock.

Miami added a late touchdown and rode the legs of Pat White to gain some hope with a little under 5 minutes to play, but turned the ball over for a fourth time and Denver finished out the clock for the victory.

Notes:

Denver scored 21pts in the second quarter ... Cassel went 21/26 225 yards and 3 touchdowns ... 2 to Morgan (3 for 50 yards) who had his first big game since being traded a season ago from the 49ers ... WR Eddie Royal had 8 receptions for 86 yards but no toucdowns ... Miami's pair of special teams fumbles cost the Dolphins 10 pts ... Miami's Cam Wake had 2 sacks and 2 tackles for a loss ... Denver's Dewayne White also had a pair of sacks in the win ... Peyton Hillis finished with 72 yards rushing while FB D. Barnes added a pair of touchdowns ... Denver now moves to Baltimore to face the Ravens in the AFC Championship game ... The two teams met only once since coach Ross's arrival where the Ravens won by a large margin ...